The Floral City Heritage Council (FCHC) attended the Annual Officer Installation and Awards Luncheon of their parent organization, Citrus County Historical Society, Inc. (CCHS,) recently. Two of the Floral City Heritage (FCH) Council members received awards. 

Immediate past Chair of the Council, Laura Hennings received the Distinguished Service Award for her five years of service on the CCHS Board and as Chair of the FCH Council.

After receiving that award, she presented the 2021 Heritage Council Award to Floral City Council Steering Committee member Ralph Johnson for his many hours coordinating the enhancement of the “Flowers ‘N’ Fountain Corner” on the northeast corner of US Hwy 41 and CR 48 in Floral City.

Ralph reminds us that the FCH Council is still accepting donations (tax-deductible to the extent of the law) for the continued enhancement of that high visibility corner. Plans call for benches, an events sign, and a cut-out silhouette of the buildings that were once in the old town. Donations may be sent to the FCH Council at P. O. Box 328, Floral City, FL 34436.

Four Walking Paths to Floral City’s Past is part of Citrus Walk Aware for Alzheimer’s November 13

The Heritage Council met with the Education Foundation of Coping with Dementia LLC to continue planning “Four Walking Paths to Floral City’s Past” portion of the annual Citrus Walk Aware for Alzheimer’s event that are planned for 9:00 am on Saturday, November 13. 

This year the Council will be involved as a full promotional partner with the principal organizer, Coping with Dementia LLC.   As a result, the Walk will be even more educational and relevant in celebrating Floral City’s history, architecture, beauty, and culture.  This year’s walk will raise funds for both Dementia Education Inc. and the Floral City Heritage Council. 

The Walks are described as follows:

• Walk A Scavenger Hunt to the Past: Discover the historic built environment.  On this Walk one will match an Architectural feature in the Scavenger Hunt brochure with one of the 18 buildings or sites in the National Register Floral City Historic District.  Walkers who successful completion the Hunt will be awarded a prize.
• Walk A Longer Historical Path to see the Past: This Walk will take one past buildings in the Historic District and on to other sites such as the National Hernando De Soto Marker, Steamboat Landing and the sites of four previous schoolhouses. 
• Walk the Florida State Black History Trail to our Past:  Only two sites in Citrus County are listed in the State of Florida’s Black History Trail and they are both in Floral City. They are still actively being used today and date back to the phosphate boom period of 1890-1914.
• Walk the Labyrinth Reminiscent of a Distant Past: This brick path is based on the early Christian spiritual paths constructed in European cathedrals.  During the period of the Crusades when it was too dangerous to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands, a journey to a Labyrinth served in its place.

Have fun, be healthy, and raise funds for Dementia Education, Inc., and the Floral City Heritage Council. Dementia Education, Inc. is a nonprofit charity that supports Citrus County families living with dementia. The Floral City Heritage Council supports historic preservation and folk life events.

One may choose to walk all four Walks or just one or two at the Annual Walk Aware event. 

The Virtual Wellness challenge begins on October 3 and continues through October 30^th.  Please go to the Walk website where one can learn more and find a participant-entry form for the Challenge and the physical Walks as well as a sponsor-registration form.  For questions, contact Ed Youngblood Foundation Director at dementiaed@aol.com  

Floral City Heritage Museum Reopens in October

The Floral City Heritage Museum and Museum “Country” Store have reopened to the public and are free of charge.  Masked Docents will greet visitors every Saturday during October from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Masks are required to tour the museum at this time. In November, the Museum plans to open every Friday and Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. 

Visit www.floralcityhc.org to learn more or call and leave a message at (352) 419-4257.